The Iowa State marching band is breaking a new stride this year, changing its marching style and picking up a brand new director.

Martin Province, originally from North Carolina, is the new director. He replaces the sometimes controversial John LaCognata, who was occasionally criticized by band members for his conducting decisions. LaCognata resigned at the end of last year.

Province has been working with the band to change its style of marching for the halftime show of football games, a time when the band is traditionally showcased. It’s called the low-step or the glide step, and according to Province, it’s a step in the right direction for the marching band.

“It’s kind of a trend. It’s a good time for Iowa State to make the move and update it,” he said.

The band is accustomed to using the high-step method, and will continue using that style for the more traditional parts of its routine, like the pregame show and the school song.

The main difference between the low-step and the high-step, the two major marching styles, is movement.

“The goal is that from the waist up there is no movement at all,” Province said.

“Many of the older band members have experience with the new style, and the new students are often from high schools that used low-step,” said senior drum major Gordon Roberts.

“It was bound to happen. The transition seems to be going pretty good. It’s the trend that is going through marching bands. They’re kind of going to the corp style,” Roberts said.

Roberts said the director transition is also going well.

“He [Province] has the ability to communicate to the students in the rehearsals. He can correct mistakes while preserving dignity,” he said. “It’s a hard thing to do to say that you’re doing something wrong and still make them feel good about it.”

With his band’s first home performance on Sept. 7 during the football game against Wyoming, Province said the band has been working hard.

“This band makes adjustments quicker than I’ve ever seen. It’s wonderful,” he said. “It saves an enormous amount of time at rehearsal. I hope it means that they like what they’re doing and respect the process.”

At the first football game ISU will be dedicating the new Jacobson Building as well as celebrating Iowa’s 150th birthday. In honor of the sesquicentennial, the band will perform “76 Trombones” from one of Iowa’s movie claims, Music Man.